Sol-Gel Based Vertical Optical Microcavities with Quantum Dot Defect Layers

The interaction between CdSc-CdS-ZnS semiconductor quantum dot emitters (QDs) and sol-gel based asymmetric Bragg microcavities is studied. It is found that the quality factor (Q) of such microcavities is limited by interlayer diffusion. This results in maximum Q values of less than 100. Despite this, these structures still exhibit optical signatures characteristic of the Purcell effect, where large modifications to the photoluminescence properties of QDs are observed.